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How to Select the Best Electric Bicycle
There are hundreds of electric bicycles (or e-bikes) being released every year now and no doubt you’ve heard from friends or family about how great they are. With an e-bike, you get the advantage of breaking through wind resistance, climbing steeper hills, and increasing your range. Plus, you can minimize asthma or knee pain when riding an electric bicycle. It’s the perfect way to get back into shape, join friend’s for a ride, or even arrive at work without breaking a sweat.
While the benefits of getting an electric bike are clear, it’s not always easy to choose the best electric bike. So here is a quick guide to choosing the right e-bike for you!
Test Ride Before You Buy
The best way to compare electric bikes is to ride them and many large cities have electric bike shops that offer daily rentals for ~$30. Take a weekend trip and rent a bike for the afternoon! It may seem like a hassle but this is worth doing before you settle on a purchase.
Understand Weight and Placement
Weight plays an important role in how an electric bike may or may not fit in your life. Heavier bikes are harder to lift and will hurt more if they fall on you or a friend at the bike rack. This really comes into play if you ever have to walk your bike home after getting a flat tire or running out of battery and can be a limiting factor if you live upstairs or plan to ride the bus/train and have to lift it a lot.Think about all of this before buying but also realize you can reduce the weight by removing the battery pack or explore options like electric powered trailers.
Consider Your Weight and the Bike’s Power
Next big consideration is your weight! That’s right, if you’re a heavier rider I’d recommend paying extra for a higher Watt motor and higher Voltage battery. These two measures determine how strong the motor will be and how much energy goes into driving the strength of the motor.
Storage
Another big consideration when buying an electric bike is how you intend to store and maintain it. Will you be parking it in safe places and keeping it inside? If so, you might be okay with a fancier computer system, built in lights and other bells and whistles. If you’re going to leave it outside in the rain, vandalism and theft become more of an issue along with general wear and tear.